Well drilling rig



Jan. 30, 1951 R v 2,539,584

WELL DRILLING RIG Filed April 25, 1946 4 Shee ats-Sheet 1 I I Jig. Z.

80 YI INVENTOR.

I 5111905173 Mei/er 1/15 ATTORNEY Jan. 30, 1951 Filed April 25, 1946 A.R. MAIER 2,539,584

WELL DRILLING RIG 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR. flugus/fi. fla/er' *bmzwwhl/AS ATTORNEY Jan. 30, 1951 A. R. MAIER WELL DRILLING RIG 4 Sheets-Sheet3 Filed April 25, 1946 INVENIZOR.

Augusf R. Na/er BY Jan. 30, 1951 A. R. MAIER 2,539,584

WELL DRILLING RIG Filed April 25, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jig. 7.

a l 5 60" f IN V EN TOR.

fit/gust ff. Na/er bm a l Patented Jan. 30, 1951 WELL DRILLING RIGAugust R. Maier, Oil City, Pa., assignor to Oil Well Supply Company, acorporation of New Jersey Application April 25, 1948, Serial No. 664,846

'8 Claims.

This invention relates to a well drilling rig of the rotary drillingtype and more particularly to a multiple engine drive for such rig.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a well drilling rigwith a, multiple engine drive, such drive being characterized by itssimplicity, its compact arrangement, and its flexibility of operationand control.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a multipleengine drive employing a small number of shiftable clutches andselectively operable couplings, but yet allowing the driving of theslush pump, the drawworks, and the rotary selectively together or singlyby one or both engines.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a multipleengine drive for a well drilling rig, in which compounding may be ef-'fected between engines while requiring the power take off shaft orextension shaft of each engine to transmit the torque from only oneengine.

These and further objects of the invention will be more readily apparentin the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

' In the preferred embodiment described and illustrated a driveemploying two engines is disclosed. It will be understood, however, thatthe invention may also be employed, the space available and operatingconditions permitting, with any number of engines more than two merelyby multiplying the number of engines similar to that which is denotedthe pump engine and their connection to the compounding means, which inthe preferred embodiment is the sleeve on .the extension shaft of theengine denoted the hoist engine.

In a multiple engine drive, of which the dual engine drive disclosed istypical, for driving the drawworks, the slush pump, and if desired, therotary of a drilling rig, it is desirable to have the assemblycompletely unitized and of compact construction. Such design is apractical necessity so that the dual engine drive unit can betransported easily over the highways without having to disassemble anyof the major units used in the complete assembly. It is also desirableto have a compact arrangement so that the unit occupies a minimum ofspace on the drilling rig, has a minimum of overhang after theunitisassembled on the drawworks skid frame, and so that the drive hasno shafts, clutches, and chains which have to be removed when movingfrom one location to another, except for the one chain or driving meansbetween the drive unit and the drawworks. It is also very desirable, inorder to provide utmost flexibility, that, if necessary, either of thetwo engines can be used singly or compounded to drive either thedrawworks or the slush pump. The device of the present embodimentfulfills the requirements for a successful, easily operated, multipleengine drive as set out above. V

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in end elevation of an oil well drilling rig providedwith a driving means in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in plan of the driving means and associated elementsof the drilling rig shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the driving unit itself, suchview being taken from the side from which the drawworks is driven;

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the transmission system of the driveunit;

Figure 5 is view in vertical section through the axis of the pump engineextension shaft of the transmission;

Figure 6 is a view in vertical section through the axis of the hoistengine extension shaft of the transmission;

Figure 7 is a view in cross section through the drive unit showingdetails of the clutch operating mechanism, the section being taken alongthe line VII -VII of Figure 2; and- Figure 8 is a view in cross sectionthrough the drive unit showing details of the duplicate clutch operatingmechanism located at the rear of the unit, the section being taken alongthe line VIII-VIII of Fi ure 2.

The multiple engine driving unit of the present invention, designatedgenerally by the reference character 2, is designed to drive thedrawworks 4 of an oil well drilling rig as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Itwill be understood that, if desired, the rotary of the rig may be drivenofl the drawworks. The unit also drives a slush pump 6, a portion ofwhich is shown in Figures 1 and 2,

' designated l6 being called the hoist engine. The

"driving of the drawwbrks from the driving unit 2 is effected by chain42 enclosed in the removable lubricating atmosphere enclosing guard [1.

i The transmission system of the driving unit is shown schematically inFigure 4. Each engine is provided with an extension shaft, the extensionshaft for the pump engine l4 being designated l8 and that for hoistengine l6 being designated 28. Shafts l8 and 28 are provided with oilbath guards I9 and 2|, respectively, as ShOWn in Figure 2. Each suchshaft is supported in bearings 22 in pillow blocks attached to suitableuprights from the driving unit skids l2, as shown in Figures and 6.Engines l4 and I6 may be selectively coupled to extension shafts I8 and28, respectively, by means of the flexible couplings 24 and 26,respectively, which will be more fully described hereinafter. Mounted onshaft I8 is a multiple sprocket 38 over which the compounding drivechain 3| runs. An oil bath guard 33 is provided to enclose chain 3|(Figure 2). Sprocket 38 may be selectively secured for rotation withshaft I8 or freed therefrom by the engagement and disengagement,respectively, of friction clutch 28. Also positioned on shaft i8 is amultiple sheave 34 which may be selectively clutched to the shaft byfriction clutch 32 to drive slush pump 6 through the medium of multiplebelts 36.

Positioned on shaft 28 is a compound drive sleeve 38 which may beclutched to or disengaged from shaft 28 by the operation of frictionclutch 46. Sleeve 38 carries two multiple sprockets, the first,designated 48, driving the multiple chain 42 which runs to thedrawworks, and the second, designated 44, engaging the multiplecompounding chain 3|. Also mounted on shaft 28 is a V-pulley 49selectively driven from shaft 28 through clutch 48. V-pulley 49 drivesthe air compressor 5| through the medium of V-belt 58. The aircompressor feeds into the air storage tank 52, so that there isavailable at the rig compressed air for various operations including thecoupling of the engines to their extension shafts by inflating the innerelements of the couplings 24 and 26, as will be described below.

The structure of the parts associated with the pump engine shaft areshown in greater detail in Figure 5, in which the pump engine is omittedand the drive unit skids are shortened by being broken at their forwardend. As there shown, the flywheel 54 of the pump engine I 4' isconnected to the pump engine shaft 18 by the flexible coupling 24, whichis selectively operable to connect the engine to the shaft and todisengage it therefrom. The coupling shown is of the type designated theFawick Airflex pneumatic flexible coupling, made by the Fawick AirflexCompany. Such coupling has an outer drum 56 affixed to the end of shaftl8 and an inner drum 58 bolted to the flywheel of the engine. Carried onthe inner drum in an inflatable friction member 68 generallycorresponding to a flattened automobile tire, the inflatable elementbeing provided with a valve stem 62 through which air may be introducedthereinto. The construction of the element 68 and the spacing ofits'oute'f surface from the inner surface of drum 56, when element 68 isdeflated, is such that with flywheel 54 at rest, drum 56 is free to turnwith respect thereto. When, however, even with element 68 deflated theengine is started, centrifugal force is sufficient to cause element 68to engage drum 56 with some force. This property of the pneumaticflexible coupling employed is valuable, where it is desirable to run theair compressor by means of the hoist engine I8 before the inflatableelement of clutch 26, which is similar to clutch 24, f

freely with respect to the sheave when clutch 32 is disengaged. Thecompounding clutch 28 is operated by the lever 66 aflixed to rock shaft61, such lever carrying a clutch operating fork at its upper end. Pumpoperating clutch 32 is operated by a similar lever 18 affixed to rockshaft H, lever 18 carrying a clutch operating fork 96 on its upper end.

The compound driving sleeve 38 is mounted on the hoist engine extensionshaft 28 (Figure 6) by means of bearings 12. Clutch 46, which is of aconventional friction clutch design similar to clutches '28 and 32, whenengaged fixes sleeve 48 for rotation with shaft 28, and when disengagedallows it to rotate freely with respect to the shaft. Clutch 46 isoperated by a lever 14 affixed to the rock shaft 15, as shown. On thetail end of shaft 28 ismounted the driving means for the air compressor5I.- Such driving means consists, as set out above, of the V-pulley 49and the clutch 48, which may be operated to connect the pulley to ordisconnect it from the drive shaft. Clutch 48 is operated by the controlmeans I88, in a manner more fully apparent from a consideration ofFigure 8.

The operating levers for friction clutches 28, 32, and 46 are connected,as will be apparent from Figures 5 and 6, to rods which extend to aforward control station at the radiator ends of the engines. In theparticular embodiment shown, such controls are in the form of threeupright levers located adjacent each other and pivoted near their lowerends on shaft 16. The first control lever 18, at the left in Figures 1and 2, is connected to the pump drive clutch, the middle lever 88 isconnected to the compound drive clutch 28, and the control lever 82, atthe right, is connected to the hoist drive clutch 46. Control lever 82is connected to a cross rock shaft 86 (see Figure 7) by means of a cranksystem generally designated 84. The opposite end of cross shaft 86, atthe left as shown in Figure 7, is provided with a crank arm 88 whichconnects with a tie rod 94 interposed between such crank and the lowerend of the clutch operating lever 14.

The connection between the operating lever 18 for pump clutch 32 and thelower end of control lever 18 is effected .by means of tie rod 98, asshown in Figure 5. Connection between the operating lever 66 for clutch28 and the lower end of operating lever 88 is effected by a similar tierod 92.

In order to provide duplicate controls for the three friction clutchesat a control station at the rear of the driving unit, there is providedthe duplicate control system shown generally in Figure 8, which alsoshows the yoke-like member I provided with the operating handle IIO foroperation of the air compressor clutch 48 from such rear controlstation. Rock shaft I carrying the operating lever 14 for the hoistclutch 40 is extended to a position located generally centrallylaterally of the drive unit, bordering the walkway between the engineextension shaft units. The end of shaft 15 is provided with an operatinglever I08, as shown. Since theclutches 32 and 46 are located in almostthe same transverse plane, the operating lever 98 for the pump clutch 32affixed to the end of shaft 'Il lies in a convenient operatingrelationship with respect to lever I00. The control mechanism ofcompound drive clutch 28, however, which is located forward of clutch32, is provided with a separate series of links and levers to bring itsoperating lever into a convenient position at the rear control station.As shown in Figure 5, a vertical lever I04 is affixed to rock shaft 61,the bottom end of such lever being connected to the bottom end of asimilar lever I00 mounted on rock shaft II by means of the cross linkI02. Operating lever I00 is mounted on a sleeve freely rotatable on therock shaft II. It is thus apparent that the. pump, compound drive, andhoist friction clutches may be controlled from either the front or rearcontrol stations, thus saving a considerable amount of time in theoperation of the drive unit.

The drive unit of the present invention displays great flexibility ofoperation since it allows the driving of either the slush pump or thedrawworks by either or both engines. Thus, either engine may beeffectively disconnected from the unit merely by the deflation of theinflatable member of its flexible pneumatic coupling. Such disconnectedmotor may .be safely worked upon while the rig is operated by the otherengine, or it may be removed completely simply by being slidlongitudinally of the skid after being unbolted therefrom. Thecompounding drive need not rotate, and thus wear, when only the slushpump is operated from the pump engine. The drive displays particularadvantages due to the fact that although the engines may be compounded.no engine extension shaft is at any time subjected to the torque of morethan one engine. Such result follows from the employment of the compounddriving sleeve on the hoist engine shaft, compounding being effectedthrough such sleeve and not through an engine extension shaft.

Whereas I have described and illustrated a particular embodiment of thedriving unit for a well drilling rig of my invention, it will beunderstood that the invention is capable of considerable variation. I,therefore, desire to claim as new the following.

I claim:

1. In a rotary drilling apparatus having a plurality of driveninstrumentalities, the combination of a first driven shaft, a firstprime mover aligned therewith for driving the shaft, a selectivelyengageable coupling between the shaft and the prime mover, the couplingwhen disengaged allowing straight line removal of the prime mover fromthe shaft, a sleeve journaled for free rotation on the first shaft, afirst clutch for selectively connecting the sleeve for rotation with thefirst shaft, a second driven shaft in spaced parallel relation to saidfirst shaft, a second prime mover aligned with the second shaft fordriving such shaft, a selectively engageable coupling between the secondshaft and the second prime mover, the coupling when disengaged allowingstraight line removal of the second rime mover from the second shaft, 9.first driving means drivingly connected to the second shaft, a secondclutch for selectively connecting the first driving means for rotationwith the second shaft, means connecting the first driving means of thesecond shaft in driving relationship with the sleeve on the first shaft,means on said sleeve to drive one of the driven instrumentalities of thedrilling apparatus, a second driving means drivingly connected to thesecond shaft, a third clutch for selectively connecting thesecond-driving means for rotation with the second shaft, and means onthe second driving means to drive another of the driveninstrumentalities of the drilling apparatus.

2. In a rotary drilling apparatus having a plurality of driveninstrumentalities, the combination of a first driven shaft, a firstprime mover aligned therewith for driving the shaft, a selectivelyengageable coupling between the shaft and the prime mover, the couplingwhen disengaged allowing straight line removal'of the prime mover fromthe shaft, a sleeve journaled for free rotation on the first shaft, afirst clutch for selectively connecting the sleeve for rotation with thefirst shaft, a second driven shaft in spaced parallel relation to saidfirst shaft, a second prime mover aligned with the second shaft fordriving such shaft, a selectively engageable coupling between the secondshaft and the second prime mover, the coupling when disengaged allowingstraight line removal of the second prime mover from the second shaft, afirst driving means drivingly connected to the second shaft, a secondclutch for selectively connecting the first driving means for rotationwith the second shaft, means connecting the first driving means of thesecond shaft indriving relationship with the sleeve on the first shaft,means on said sleeve to drive one of the driven instrumentalities of thedrilling apparatus, a second driving means drivingly connected to thesecond shaft, a third clutch for selectively connecting the seconddriving means for rotation with the second shaft, means on the seconddriving means to drive another of the driven instrumentalities of thedrilling apparatus, an air compressor, means on the first shaft to drivethe compressor, and a selectively engageable fourth clutch interposedbetween the last named means and the first shaft.

3. In a rotary drilling apparatus including a drawworks and a slushpump, the combination of a first driven shaft, a first prime moveraligned therewith for driving the shaft, a selectively engageablecoupling between the shaft and the prime mover, the coupling whendisengaged allowing straight line removal of the prime mover from theshaft, a sleeve journaled for free rotation on the first shaft, a firstclutch for selectively connecting the sleeve for rotation with the firstshaft, a second driven shaft in spaced parallel relation to said firstshaft, a second prime mover aligned with the second shaft for drivingsuch shaft, a selectively engageable coupling between the second shaftand the second prime mover, the coupling when disengaged allowingstraight line removal of the second prime mover from the second shaft, afirst driving means drivingly connected to the second shaft, :3. secondclutch for selectively connecting the first driving means for rotationwith the second shaft, means connecting the first driving means of thesecond shaft in driving relationship with the sleeve on the first Shaft,

means on said sleeve to drive the drawworks of the drilling apparatus, asecond driving means drivingly connected to the second shaft, a thirdclutch for selectively connecting the second driving means for rotationwith the second shaft, means on the second driving means to drive theslush pump of the drilling apparatus, and control means for the first,second, and third clutches located at a common control station.

4. In a rotary drilling apparatus including a drawworks and a slushpump, the combination of a first driven shaft, a first prime moveraligned therewith for driving the shaft, a. selectively engageablecoupling between the shaft and the prime mover, the coupling whendisengaged allowing straight line removal of the prime mover from theshaft, a sleeve journaled for free rotation on the first shaft, a firstclutch for selectively connecting the sleeve for rotation with the firstshaft in spaced parallel relation to said first shaft, a second drivenshaft, a second prime mover aligned with the second shaft for drivingsuch shaft, a selectively engageable coupling between the second shaftand the second prime mover the coupling when disengaged allowingstraight line removal of the second prime mover from the second shaft, afirst driving means drivingly connected to the second shaft, a secondclutch for selectively connecting the first driving means for rotationwith the second shaft, means connecting the first driving means of thesecond shaft in driving relationship with the sleeve on the first shaft,means on said sleeve to drive the drawworks of the drilling apparatus, asecond driving means drivingly connected to the second shaft, a thirdclutch for selectively connecting the second driving means for rotationwith the second shaft, means on the second driving means to drive theslush pump of the drilling apparatus, an air compr;ssor, means on thefirst shaft to drive the compressor, a selectively engageable fourthclutch interposed between the last named means and the first shaft, andcontrol means for the first, second, third,

, and fourth clutches located at a common control station.

5. In a rotary drilling apparatus including a drawworks and a slushpump, the combination of a first driven shaft, a first prime moveraligned therewith for driving the shaft, a selectively engageablecoupling between the shaft and the rear of the prime mover, the couplingwhen disengaged allowing straight line removal of the prime mover fromthe shaft, a sleeve journaled for free rotation on the first shaft, afirst clutch for slectively connecting the sleeve for rotation with thefirst shaft, a second driven shaft parallel to the first driven shaftand spaced therefrom, a second prime mover aligned with the second shaftfor driving such shaft and being of construction interchangeable withsaid first prime mover, a selectively engageable coupling between thesecond shaft and the rear of the second prime mover, the coupling whendisengaged allowing straight line removal of the second prime mover fromthe second shaft, a first driving means drivingly connected to thesecond shaft, a second clutch for selectively connecting the firstdriving means for rotation with ithe second shaft in drivingrelationship with for rotation with the second shaft, means on thesecond driving means to drive the slush pump of the drilling apparatus,and air compressor, means on the first driven shaft to drive thecompressor, a selectively engageable fourth clutch interposed betweenthe last named means and the first driven shaft, control means for thefirst, second, third, and fourth clutches located at a common controlstation between the first and second shafts, and duplicate control meansfor the first, second, and third clutches located at a common controlstation in front of the prime movers.

6. In a well drilling rig including a drawworks and a slush pump,driving mechanism comprising a pair of interchangeably constructed primemovers, a pair of spaced parallel shafts adapted to be drivenrespectively by said prime movers, a unitary sleeve freely carried byone of said shafts, clutch means for connecting said sleeve with theshaft on which it is carried to be driven thereby, means connecting saidsleeve with said drawworks for driving the latter, means carried by theother of said shafts for driving said slush pump, a sleeve freelycarried on the shaft carrying said pump driving means, clutch means forconnecting said second named sleeve with the shaft on which it iscarried to be driven thereby, and belt means directly interconnectingsaid sleeves, whereby said drawworks and said slush pump may be drivenby either or both of said prime movers.

7. In a well drilling rig including a drawworks and a slush pump,driving mechanism comprising a pair of interchangeably constructed primemovers havin power take-oil's, a pair of spaced parallel shafts axiallyaligned with said power take-offs, releasable clutches. connecting saidshafts and said power take-offs, a sleeve journaled on one of saidshafts, a releasable clutch connecting said sleeve with the shaft onwhich it is journaled for driving this sleeve, means connecting saidsleeve with said drawworks for driving the latter, means carried by theother of said shafts for driving said slush pump. a

' sleeve journaled on the shaft which carries said pump driving means, areleasable clutch connecting said second named sleeve with the shaft onwhich it is journaled for driving this sleeve, and a belt directlyinterconnecting said sleeves so that said prime movers can be compoundedfor driving said drawworks and the compounded torque stresses in thedriving mechanism are con fined to said first named sleeve.

8. In a well drilling rig including a drawworks and a slush pump,driving mechanism comprisin a pair of interchangeably constructed primemovers having power take-offs, a pair of spaced parallel shafts axiallyaligned with said power take-offs, releasable clutches connecting saidshafts and said power take-offs, an integral unitary sleeve journaled-onone of said shafts and having on its exterior two separate means forengaging belt drives, a releasable clutch connecting said sleeve withthe shaft on which it is journaled for driving this sleeve, a belt driveconnecting one of the engaging means on the exterior of said sleeve withsaid drawworks for driving the latter, means carried by the other ofsaid shafts for driving said slush pump, a sleeve journaled on the shaftwhich carries the pump driving means and having on its exterior a meansfor engaging a ,belt drive, a releasable clutch connecting said secondnamed sleeve with the shaft on which it is journaled for driving thissleeve, and a belt drive directly interconnecting the other engagingmeans on the exterior of said first named sleeve with the engaging meanson the exterior of said second named sleeve so that said prime moverscan be compounded for driving said drawworks and the compounded torquestresses in the drivin 5 mechanism are confined to said first namedsleeve.

AUGUST R. MAIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 fileof this patent:

Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Young Feb. 12, 1935 SheldonJan. 7, 1936 Sheldon Nov. 21, 1939 Dunn et a1. Mar. 5, 1940 Howe et a1.May 27, 1941 Webster July 22, 1941 Young June 20, 1944 Archer Aug. 13,1946 Spalding Nov. 15, 1949

